Marathon protesters call time out on field of swill

A big clean up has started at Government House.

The PAD worries its protest site is such a pig sty people will start getting sick.

Since August 26, thousands of demonstrators have been camped in mud and muck, come rain or shine.Their presence is causing untold headaches for the government. Many state workers cannot get to their offices at the building.

The once pristine grounds are a stinking quagmire.

Just 10 days into the siege, all the fish in the pond had died because the water had become a rancid, toxic swamp.

Now, protestors are keeling over with skin infections and the mosquitoes are feasting on a PAD smorgasbord.

So yesterday the Dharma Army spearheaded a cleanup. "Rain has left puddles of muddy water. These are the sources of slush and germs," army clean-up boss Kaenfah Saenmuang, an internationally educated engineer, says.

"We have mobilised volunteers to help," he said.

"We have spread sand and erected huge tents to keep the demonstrators dry and clean," Kaenfah says. There are wood floors.

The PAD leadership is working with professionals to ensure no epidemic breaks out.

The Fine Arts Department says its permission is not required but adds the PAD should stop work because the property is state land.

The Teuk Daeng in the compound is a registered historic building. Any renovation or change requires department approval.